It is no doubt that the main reason for over fishing is the use of illegal gear and illegal methods of fishing that lead to harvesting of fish of any size. Therefore, Ugandan government has decided to focus on major areas in order of priority such as elimination of illegal gears, curbing of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, control of illicit trade in immature fish, and monitoring and surveillance of illegal cross border fish trade reduction in fishing capacity.
It is true that the fisheries sub-sector is the most valued in the agriculture sector. The technical people in the Ministries of agriculture and finance have not provided the support needed for the sub-sector to develop. But the year the government has decided to provide will provide sh220b to the agriculture sector but the fisheries sub-sector has only been allocated a paltry sh2b. The sub-sector should be receiving at least 30 percent of the budget for the Ministry of Agriculture.
According to the technical staff to eliminate fishing illegalities and control illicit trade in immature fish. To revamp the fishing industry, there are some measures set forth:
1. Recalling the licensing function from local councils to the Department of Fisheries Resources.
2. Recentralising all fisheries officers involved in regulation.
3. Recalling the regulatory and enforcement facilities issued to other non fisheries agencies.
4. The department and Marine Police will step up enforcement of the existing fisheries regulations.
5. Putting in place a more aggressive monitoring, control and surveillance programme against illegal fishing practices and illicit trade in immature fish.
It si informed that Beach Management Units (BMUs) will be disbanded if found to be complacent in fighting use of illegal gear. There are fishermen with legalised but excessive gear. These should be compensated and facilitated to quit fishing and take on alternative sources of livelihood.
